Hightower will not be given the tag, now a free agent

[Love The Drake]

True. But there's much more money around this time and not much competition for elite versatile 3 down LB. Also weak ILB draft.

Then again, there is a degree of trust and respect among Pats and High so like Reiss mentioned this morning he could let Pats match (or be competitive with) the offers regardless of no transition tag.

Id be on the phone with Zach Brown

 

[Love The Drake]

He played like a monster against us

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm fine paying Hightower at the top of the LB market, but anything over $12m a year and you have to let him walk. Maybe the Pats can put the savings towards Jimmy G and secure another 10 year run!

The problem with what you just stated is that 12M/year isn't the top of the LB Market. Not when you include OLBs. Then it's $19M.

Personally, I don't believe that Hightower is as good a Kuechly, but I'd be willing to pay him $14M-15M/year because he fits our system..

 

[resdubwhite]

Well, that sucks.

Not over yet. but its looking more probable than not he's going to get paid elsewhere.

 

[BTTA]

It might just be that the coaching staff and player personnel people have so much respect for Hightower that they've simply said, "We all know that there is probably a team out there that will pay you crazy money; if that's the case, we'd be the last people to tell you to stay here. You've earned a shot at that and if it comes, congratulations!"

This could be nothing more than an indication of how strong the relationship is between them.

Plus, I suspect he wants to live a good deal farther south than NE.

 

[DaBruinz]

They wont get second contracts of the patriots.

But each one of them is breaking the bank.

Collins: 12.5 mil
Jones: 17 mil*
Hightower: probably between 12-15 mil

Those three guys are getting a combined: 44 million dollars next year.

16 million wouldn't be enough i don't think to fill all of the other holes we currently have to fill.

16M is plenty to fill the holes the Pats need to fill if you include those 3..

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Thanks for the memories. He's as good as gone though IMO. I'd be very surprised to see him back. Hey what's Gary Guyton up to these days?

 

[Kontradiction]

That's very risky unless they're closer than the media has let on to a deal. There is nobody out there that the Patriots can get, whether its in the draft or through FA, that can immediately give them what Hightower does.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

McMillan of Ohio state is looking like the pick at #32.

I wonder if bb would be interested in upshaw?

 

[PatsGuy]

Nothing new here. We let guys walk all the time. Do I agree with it? Never, but that's why I'm me and the Patriots are champions.
I've learned not to question any move they make ever again.

So u have NO questions as to how they spend the $60 million + they have under the cap?

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Here we go again. I expect another different outcome than last time with McCourty. It sucks. You can't get attached to these players. I expect butler to cash in when his time comes as well.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

So u have NO questions as to how they spend the $60 million + they have under the cap?

They can restructure as well and have more money. They better get some players on defense if they lose hightower.

 

[bormio]

If the Patriots do not pay Hightower, they will have a boatload of money to spend. I think they believe Roberts with their DL give them a very good core to stop running games. Replacing Hightower's blitzing and coverage skills might be harder - Roberts has work to do there. But they will have a pile of money to improve the team in a number of areas.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Hightower was like the QB of the defense. Idk how you replace that. It will take some time for this defense to gel again.

 

[farn]

I do not understand the "how's that working out now" gang re : Collins, Jones, HT.

The answer needs to be "great". 2014 champs - 2015 a few pts away from SB - 2016 champs.

I thought HT & Butler were the ones to keep. But I'm certainly not going to freak out about changes. Consider how different this championship team was from 2014... still won.

I'm thankful for the huge plays HT contributed to both recent SBs. But I'm not crying about his potential departure. We're cool.

 

[supafly]

The problem with what you just stated is that 12M/year isn't the top of the LB Market. Not when you include OLBs. Then it's $19M.

Personally, I don't believe that Hightower is as good a Kuechly, but I'd be willing to pay him $14M-15M/year because he fits our system..

I'd definitely be willing to pay him that on the tag for the upcoming year, as that would allow the team two different cracks at the draft/free agency to replace him.

I'm not a fan of the gamble for this particular year, but then again, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Belichick likes to turn and burn with the rookie pacts, which is one of the reasons we're normally in a good cap position to begin with.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

If the Patriots do not pay Hightower, they will have a boatload of money to spend. I think they believe Roberts with their DL give them a very good core to stop running games. Replacing Hightower's blitzing and coverage skills might be harder - Roberts has work to do there. But they will have a pile of money to improve the team in a number of areas.

No knock on Roberts but he aint hightower. Linebacker will be a big priority in the draft.

 

[sportnik]

The problem with what you just stated is that 12M/year isn't the top of the LB Market. Not when you include OLBs. Then it's $19M.

Personally, I don't believe that Hightower is as good a Kuechly, but I'd be willing to pay him $14M-15M/year because he fits our system..

Correct, I should have specified that I'd pay him at the top of the ILB market, so like a Collins or a Kuechly. But A GM willing to pay ILBs like OLBs will end up getting fired.

I do think $14m is a bit much for any ILB, particularly one that isn't reliable in coverage (don't get me wrong, I love HT but he does have his limits).

 

[Huckleberry1]

They wont get second contracts of the patriots.

But each one of them is breaking the bank.

Collins: 12.5 mil
Jones: 17 mil*
Hightower: probably between 12-15 mil

Those three guys are getting a combined: 44 million dollars next year.

16 million wouldn't be enough i don't think to fill all of the other holes we currently have to fill.

If he wants 16 a year then let him go. Much as I love Hightower as a player he isn't worth that. Trade Garrapolo and draft a LB in the first round, then get the comp pick for him. The sh.t teams have really created an insane free agent market, the money has gotten ridiculous. I'm all for paying great players too money but when Hightower etc want more money than Keuchly the market is out of whack.

 

[Urgent]

The Pats have $60mm in available cap space, and spend close to the cap every year.

Hightower has always seemed like a Belichick guy - football is important, film study, do your job, versatile, smart, tough. He is less flashy than Collins or Chandler Jones, and more dependable. I would compare Hightower more to Mayo than Collins or Jones, and I think you can argue that the Patriots overpaid Mayo.

I am not surprised that they did not franchise him.
I am not surprised that Hightower wants to test free agency.

I would not go nuts with an offer pre-free agency if I was the Patriots GM, and I would go relatively high to match a competing offer.
I think with a player with Hightower's character, I would go more years and more guaranteed. I thin Hightower is the type of player the Patriots pay - like Mankins, Mayo, Wilfork, McCourty.

I will be surprised if he is not back.